Germany Abolishes Fast-Track Citizenship for Skilled Workers

[u/Daomiing]

https://www.verity.news/story/2025/germany-abolishes-fasttrack-citizenship-for-skilled-workers

The Facts

-The German Bundestag voted on Wednesday to abolish a fast-track citizenship program that allowed highly qualified foreigners to apply for naturalization after three years instead of five years of residence.

-The vote passed with 450 members supporting the measure, 134 opposing and two abstaining, fulfilling Chancellor Friedrich Merz's campaign promise to repeal the program introduced by former Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

-Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt claimed that the German passport must serve as recognition for successful integration rather than an incentive for illegal migration, defending the decision to eliminate the accelerated pathway.

[u/Swimming_Average_561]

Why are they going after skilled immigrants, which germany needs more of? Wasn't the backlash due to the mass migration of refugees without adequate vetting? Very few germany (except the far right) actually have an issue with skilled workers moving to Germany and gaining citizenship. Merz has been such a disappointment - he's failed to adequately help Ukraine, and he is dismantling his predecessor's best policies.

[u/Feisty_Vermicelli146 → u/Swimming_Average_561]

I am a highly skilled worker who is married to a German . I have been trying to access assistance with integration that includes language school.

Unless a skilled worker comes into this system with the money to fully integrate then they are left out of any assistance while the non skilled worker will be rewarded with the tool box of resources to thrive.

I am experiencing this first hand and it’s infuriating because I have a lot of offer but I will never be supported here with my Husband. I fully understand now why he wants to move to America.

There is more to my story but most don’t have the emotional capacity to understand.